Jack Harbertson defeats John Berg, who disputes Santel's claim for not making the 170lb limit, on 18/05/21 in Ogden, UT to claim the title; Santel defeats Harbertson on 19/01/08 in Ogden, UT; Santel loses to Clarence Eklund in a tournament on 28/11/20 in Melbourne, AUS (see below); may continue to claim the title in Northern California until 31 or 32.

Elmer "Pet" Brown

1916

Defeats George Grim.

Clarence Eklund

1916/09/14

Houston, TX, USA

Helmer Myre

1918/01

Charles City, IA, USA

Clarence Eklund [2]

1919

Charles City, IA, USA

Helmer Myre [2]

1922/04/04

Abert Lea, MN, USA

Clarence Eklund [3]

1922/10/20

Sheridan, WY, USA

Charlie Rentrop

1923/01/04

Sheridan, WY, USA

Clarence Eklund [4]

1923/01/26

Sheridan, WY, USA

Ted Thye

1926/02/10

Columbus, OH, USA

Clarence Eklund [5]

1926/05/12

Portland, OR, USA

Thye continues to claim the title in Ohio but loses to Eklund on 26/06/02 in Columbus, OH; Thye also continues to be recognized in Australia, loses to Sam Clapham sometime in 26, and regains on 27/08/20 in W. Melbourne, AUS.

Ira Dern

1927/01/01

Columbus, OH, USA

Eklund may continue to claim the title outside Ohio; vacant in Ohio sometime after 27/07/20 when Dern's weight exceeds the division limit.

Pinky Gardner

1927/08/24

Columbus, OH, USA

Defeats Clarence Eklund for the local recognition.

Clarence Eklund [6]

1927/12/14

Columbus, OH, USA

John Shimkus

1928/01/24

Dallas, TX, USA

Clarence Eklund [7]

1928/02/14

Dallas, TX, USA

Wins tournament on 28/11/20 in Melbourne, AUS to become the undisputed champion (see below).

Or "fall of 1929", according to various newspapers; still/again billed as champion as of 31/09/30 in Dubuque, IA, 32/01/26 in Kansas City, KS, 35/04/24 in Springfield, OH, and 38/10/11 in Illinois.

Clarence Eklund

1928/11/20

Melbourne, AUS

Wins tournament to become the undisputed champion, defeating Ted Thye in the final and Ad
Santel in earlier round; declared vacant by the National Wrestling Association when Eklund declines invitation
to participate in tournament in 30; continue to claim the title in Montana but retires in 31 (or 32?).

Jesse James defeats McShain by DQ in the third fall on 39/03/06 in Hollywood, CA, but McShain continues to be recognized by NWA because the title cannot change hands by DQ; James is recognized in California; McShain defeats James on 40/01/15 in Hollywood, CA to unify the California version.

Still champion as of 48/03/18; Billy Goelz is billed as NWA champion in Illinois; may be vacant in California in 48/03.

Jackie Nichols

1948/04/05<

May have won international tournament in Hollywood, CA, defeating Blears in the final; still champion as of 48/06/02.

Carroll (Pink) Gardner

1949/12/14<

Recognized in Schenectady, NY.

Andy Tremaine

1950/04/18

El Paso, TX, USA

Defeats Monte LaDue to be recognized by National Wrestling Association; still holds the title as of 52/08/21; declines the offer to wrestle National Wrestling Alliance champion in a unification match and retires as champion in 52.

Recognized as National Wrestling Alliance champion in Iowa; also recognized as champion in Illinois as of 52/01/08 (may not be billed as an NWA champion); Carl Engstrom defeats Balbo in what is most likely a non-title match on 52/06/28 in Chicago, IL and is billed as champion as late as 52/08/26 in some towns in Wisconsin and Iowa where Balbo is billed as a former champion; Balbo continues to be billed as champion in Illinois and is again billed as NWA champion in Iowa in 52/10.

Defeats Al Kashey, contender appointed by the National Wrestling Association, to be recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance, with presidents from both organizations in attendance; some sources say that Kashey has been awarded on 57/11/30 in Tulsa, OK.

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